The European Union(EU) and World Health Organization(WHO) have collaborated to improve global health security and access to medical products and health technologies in Africa.

The two senior representatives of the partner organizations Euros Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signed a letter of intent for a € 24.5 million EU contribution to WHO to support local manufacturing of and access to vaccines medicines and health technologies in Sub Saharan Africa.

Speaking after signing the letter, Dr Ghebreyesus thanked the EU commissioner and said that,” One of the most obvious lessons of the pandemic is the urgent need to increase local production of vaccines especially in low and middle income countries”.

WHO expressed gratitude towards the initiative saying it will ensure equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable essential medicines and other health products for African countries.

The new initiative is designed to empower African countries and partners such as the African Union to further enable local manufacturing of medical products and health technologies.

WHO has a longstanding, strategic partnership with the EU, as they work together to support countries in building systems for resilient, sustainable and inclusive development through the promotion of health and wellbeing, strengthening of health systems and preparedness and response to health emergencies.